Mat.



1,090,791 Patented Mar.17,1914.

G. J. PETERSON.

MAT.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 7. 191a FFTQ.

CHRISTEN J. PETERSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WEARPROOF MAT COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

MAT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 7, 1913.

Patented Mar. 17, 1314. Serial No. 759,391.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHRISTEN J. Pn'rnnson, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mats, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to that type of mat having a metal frame and employing, if desired, blocks of leather, creosoted wool-felt or other similar material and is used as a floor covering or protector.

The objects of the present invention are toarrange a series of pocket-like sections throughout the body of the mat which are produced by stamping or otherwise bending plate-like metallic strips and to provide a flange along the under side of said strips producing a relatively broad flat undersurface for the mat whereby any injury to the floor due to the cutting action of the thin strips of metal is eliminated, and whereby a broad foundation is given to the strips preventing their becoming bent because of torsional strains exerted during use.

A further object of the invention is to employ a flexible member as for instance a chain for connecting the pocket-like sections of the mat body whereby relative movement between said sections in a plurality of di rections is permitted andthus the mat enabled to be folded into a compact form. And the invention further consists in the features of construction and combination of partshereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view off one form of mat made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; Fig. 2 a section on line 22 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 3 a plan view of another form of mat made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; and Fig. l a view of the form of mat shown in Fig. 3 provided with a flexible connecting means for the mat sections.

Mats of the character to which the present invention relates are used as a protection for floors, and as a means for prevent ing slippage, and are generally made of so ries of foldable sections, each consisting of blocks of suitable flexible material bound on two sides by metal strips.

The present invention deals with a mat made for the purpose above stated, and in addition to employing metal strips which extend only upon two sides of the blocks, it is also intended to so configure the strips as to form a series of pockets through the body of the mat which may bind all four sides by walls of metal when desired. A general 0] yectlon to such a style of mat as previously made lies in the fact that the lower edge of the metal strips forming the pocket-like sectlO'llS will cut or mar the floor, owing to the fact that thestrips are necessarily of a relatively thin grade of metal and present a relatively sharp edge.

The principal aim and object of the present invention is to so configure these strips as to provide a relatively broad flat underfacing for the mat body, eliminating the 0bjectionable cutting and scratching action heretofore stated, and this under facing further provides a substantial and firm base for the sections so that said sections will not become twlsted or bent out of shape by torsional strain which it may be subjected to during use, it being obvious that if the lower facing for the plates is in the nature of a thin edge it will present a bearing surface which would allow the plates to easily turn and bend under strain.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Fig. l. the form of mat there ,shown consists of a series of metallic platel1ke strips which are bent throughout thelr length into a series of U-shaped sections 6, and as will be seen from the drawings each alternate U-shaped section will face in the same direction and each adjacent llJ-shaped section will face in a different di rection. Each of the U-shaped sections 6,

las will be seen, is of a slightly tapered na- =ture so that the strips 5 when properly configured and ]O11'|.Cl together Wlll to a certain extent nest within one another. This produces throughoutthe body ofthe mat a series of pocket-like sections I, each surrounded on all four sides by a wall of metal.

The lower portions of the strip 5 are bent at right angles or approximately right angles to the body to provide flanges 8, thus creating throughout the underface of the mat a relatively broad flat bearing surface whereby no sharp edgesare presented which might mar or scratch the floor, and whereby a firm, substantial base is given to the mat preventing any twisting by torsional strains during use. In the construction shown in Fig. 1 the flanges are slightly out away as at 9 to permit of a relative move ment being had between the strips 5. The strips 5 as heretofore stated slightly nest or overlap and through the overlapping portions of said sections extends a rod 10 which connects the sections together and which forms a pivot about which the sections bend so as to permit the mat to be folded or rolled into compact form. Said rod is U-shaped initially, and when inserted through the sections has its unbent ends folded over to form the rod into the shape of a loop. If it is desired blocks 11 of leather, creosoted wool-felt or other material maybe provided to give a cushioning and sound proof property to the mat, as well as giving increased frictional surface to the mat and intensifying the non-slippage feature.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 3 of the drawing theform of mat there disclosed consists of a series of plate-like strips 12 bent into rectangular form creating a pocket-like member similar to all practical purposes to the pocket-like members 7 heretofore described, and the strips 12 are flanged at their lower portions as at 13 to provide a substantially broad, firm underfacingfor the mat body, similar to the underfacing described in connection with the form of mat shown in Fig. 1. The pocketlike sections in this form of mat slightly overlap as will beseen from the drawing, and extending through said overlapping portions is a rod similar to the rod 10 previously described. In this form of device blocks of creosoted wool-felt or other sub.

stance may be inserted as described in connection with Fig. 1. The rods 10, both in the form of mat shown in Fig. 1 and that shown in Fig. 3, may pass through the strips of creosoted wool-felt or other substance and serve as a binder for holding the same in place, suitable apertures of course being provided in said strips to permit the passage of the rods therethrough.

In Fig. 4 the same construction as to the pocketed member is employed as that described in connection with Fig. 3, but in place of using a rod to join the members together a flexible member as achain 14 is employed thus permitting a folding of the In the case of the forms illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, where each pocket-like member is separate and independent, any of the same may beremoved for repair or substitution without destroying the efliciency of any other portion of the mat, or necessitating the removal or ,substitution of any other than the portion or portions desired to be removed or substituted.

I claim:

1. A mat of the class described, comprising bent plate-like metallic strips, said strips being flanged on their under side to provide a relatively broad fiat metallic underfacing for the mat body and strengthening the matagainst torsional strain and means for joining said strips together to permit relative movement therebetween, substantially as described.

2. A mat of the class described, comprising a series of plate-like metallic strips each bent to provide an independent pocket memher, the lower portions of said strips being bent to provide a flange whereby a relatively broad fiat metallic underfacing for the mat body is produced and the mat strengthened against torsional strains and means for joining said members together to provide relative movement therebetween, substantially as described.

3. A mat of the class described, comprising a series of plate-like metallic strips each bent to provide an independent pocket member, the lower portions of said strips being bent to provide a flange whereby a relatively broad fiat metallic underfacing for the mat body is produced and the mat strengthened against torsional strains and flexible means for joining said members together to permit relative movement therebetween in a plurality of directions, substantially as described.

CHRISTEN J. PETERSON. Witnesses:

WM. P. BOND, THOMAS A. BANNING, Jr.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

